In a tight Q2 session, Hamilton could only muster 11th and reported on the radio afterwards that "there’s something not right with this car". Meanwhile, team-mate George Russell went on to qualify fourth in Q3.
Hamilton and Russell have been plagued all year by a capricious Mercedes W14 that is hard to trust.
Hamilton felt it was worse than ever on Saturday on the Yas Marina Circuit, which started with final practice in the daytime heat and a twilight qualifying session on a cooling track.
“It's more inconsistent that ever before,” he said. “It's just up and down per corner from the moment you hit the brakes, the moment you turn, the moment you hit the apex.
“It's massively out of balance and very hard to predict what's gonna happen.
“It's just a very unpredictable car. But it's been the same all year.”
When asked if he was relieved that he will no longer have to qualify the W14, he replied: “I wouldn't say I'm relieved, but I'm definitely happy it's nearly over.”
Team boss Toto Wolff said he was tired of discussing why his car is wildly inconsistent.
“I’m fed up with having explanations for why it didn’t go well,” he told Sky Sports F1.
Source: Autosport